Iceland is often lauded for its renewable energy production, which supplies nearly every home and business with abundant green electricity and hot water. However some point out that renewable energy is logical for Iceland and makes good economic sense and is not an environmental gesture at all—a fact apparently illustrated by the country’s high level of car ownership. However, the EPI looks further than just electricity production.

According to Visir.is, the EPI looks at ten different environmental factors for each country, including: the health of the natural environment, air quality, water quality, biological diversity, fisheries management and agriculture. Iceland picked up the most points for reducing carbon emissions and the planting of new forests. Switzerland, Sweden and Norway tied in second on the list and Costa Rica was the only non-European nation to make the top five.

The world’s developing nations fared worst, with the bottom five on the index being Togo, Angola, Mauritania, the Central African Republic and Sierra Leone.

The USA took 61st place on the list and has therefore fallen 22 places since the last EPI two years ago. Other industrialised nations fared badly with Canada dropping 44 places and China 16.